Coronavirus: Resources for Kansas City Nonprofits
Nonprofit Connect recognizes the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the Kansas City nonprofit community, and we aim to support your organization during this time of crisis. That’s why we have provided this list of considerations and resources for local nonprofits to be prepared, and are updating the list daily.
Nonprofit Connect is evaluating our upcoming programs and events. This a rapidly changing situation, and we will communicate any changes as soon as possible by email, social media and our website.
Let’s all remember to be kind as we make sense of how this outbreak will impact our work and lives.
How might coronavirus affect nonprofits?
As key service providers and organizations in frequent contact with the community, nonprofits may potentially face these and other impacts:
- increased and sustained staff and volunteer absences;
- disruption of services to your clients and communities;
- disruption of supplies or services provided by your partners;
- cancellation of programs or events (and corresponding reduced revenue);
- increased demand for services/support from your clients and communities; and
- budgetary implications related to strains on the economy.
What can Kansas City nonprofits do to prepare?
Communicate
Employers play an important role in educating and reassuring employees, volunteers and visitors.
- Talk with your team at a staff meeting. Reassure your team that you care about their health and safety.
- Remind employees of policies related to illness and sick leave at your organization.
- Proactively communicate with employees, volunteers and clients about updates and changes to eliminate confusion.
- Remind employees, volunteers and clients of hygiene best practices including hand washing, sanitizing, and cough and sneeze etiquette.
- Resource: Example communication from local nonprofits Harvesters, Folly Theater, KC CARE Clinic, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Camp Encourage
- Resource: Printable Posters – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Revisit Policies and Procedures
Nonprofits may be considering adjustments to or implementations of policies, out of concern for their employees’ health. Nonprofits should:
- Review their policies related to illness and sick leave to ensure that they are consistent with public health recommendations.
- Update or create policies that support remote work and create systems for employees to utilize the option.
- Develop a plan for communicating with employees about emergency situations such as office closures.
- Resource: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the Coronavirus Disease – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Resource: Nonprofit Resources for Remote Work During the COVID-19 Outbreak - TechSoup
- Resource: Free Conferencing Tools – Google & Microsoft
- Resource: Free Remote Work Tools - GoToMeeting
- Resource: Free Conferencing Tools - Zoom
Apply a Risk-Assessment Lens to Events and Programs
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has declared a state of emergency, cancelling or delaying all events in the city with more than 50 attendees. Otherwise, the guidance is to proceed with common-sense protections.
Additional considerations for rescheduling or cancelling programs and events include:
- Determine a deadline for making a decision about whether or not to cancel a program and event.
- Determine if the program or event can be hosted virtually through a webinar or live stream. Consider when, how, and how often to communicate with program participants or event attendees, sponsors, and partners.
- Consider the impact of canceling a program or event on revenue, including whether or not to explore event insurance to mitigate the costs of a major event cancellation.
- Resource: Example Virtual Fundraising Event: Hoops for Hounds - KC Pet Project
- Resource: Force Majeure and the Coronavirus - Stinson
- Resource: Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak - World Health Organization
- Resource: What you need to know about coronavirus and special event insurance - Insureon
- Webinar: Force Majeure and the Coronavirus Webinar | March 24 at 12:00 PM | Stinson
- Webinar: Coronavirus and What You Need to Know About Postponing and Cancelling Events | March 24 at 12:00PM | CharityHowTo
Stay Informed
Watch, listen to or read the news, subscribe to updates and regularly check credible websites for current information. We're also providing links to upcoming webinars specific to nonprofit response to the outbreak.
Kansas City-Focused
- Resource: Coronavirus Information – Kansas City Health Department
- Resource: PrepareMetroKC – Mid-America Regional Council
- Resource: What you need to know as the Coronavirus hits the Kansas City metro- KCUR
- Resource: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Kansas City Arts - ArtsKC
- Resource: Kansas City COVID-19 Community Resources - The Beacon
- Resource: Disaster Resources - United Way of Greater Kansas City 2-1-1
- Resource: COVID-19 Relief Resources for Kansas City - Uncover KC
- Resource: #NPCOVID19 Resources for Nonprofits - Beth Kanter
- Resource: Things to Know & Do - Nonprofit Risk Management Center
- Resource: Coronavirus Digital Information Portal - Nonprofit HR
Be Kind
Concerns about coronavirus should focus on the facts and ensuring the safety of our families, colleagues and communities. Coronavirus is not an excuse for racism and xenophobia. We urge you to be kind as we make sense of how this outbreak will impact our work and lives.
- Be mindful that different members of your team may perceive the threat differently or have special concerns based on their life circumstances. For example, persons with elderly family members may be especially concerned, and Asian Americans are likely facing increased racism.
- Leaders should be prepared to recognize, respond to and prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality regarding the health of specific employees. Speak out if you see this happening.
Funding Resources
Local
- A coalition of charitable, business and government partners has joined together to create the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to address the needs of the Kansas City region's most vulnerable communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.
- Federal Reserve of Kansas City offers Investment Connection to bring community and economic development organizations together with the funding community. Select organizations can present proposals for community and economic development projects that may be eligible under the Community Reinvestment Act to potential funders. Learn more here.
- The federal response to COVID-19 has unrolled in three phases. Phase 1 was the supplemental appropriations bill which has become law. Phase 2, the Families First Coronavirus Response, has also been passed into law. Phase 3 will hopefully provide broader economic stimulus designed to help individuals and industries like nonprofits weather the downturn. Read more here.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing Economic Injury Disaster Loans to nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Missouri and Kansas were granted eligibility on March 21. Learn more and apply here.
- Candid lists RFPs and more updates about the national philanthropic response to COVID-19. Read more here.
